Charities and Public Policy

Arthur Brooks talked about his book Who Really Cares? The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism, publishd by Basic Books. In a forum titled, “'Tis the Season: Who’s Giving?,” Mr. Brooks said that his research indicated that three-quarters of Americans contribute their time and money to various causes, while the rest of the population does not. Professor Brooks said that the evidence he collected shows that conservatives are far more likely than liberals to donate their time and money to charitable organizations. He identified the factors driving American charity, including strong families, church attendance, and the belief that social ills were best addressed by individuals rather than government. He talked about the implications for policy debates on issues like welfare reform, urban policy, the estate tax, education, and church/state questions. He responded to questions from members of the audience. close